SAE International Begins New 2012 R1234yf Cooperative
Research Program and Names Initial Participants

DETROIT--Nov. 9,
2012: In October
2012, a fourth SAE International Cooperative Research Program (CRP)
was launched by the automotive industry to further analyze the safety of
the new mobile air conditioner refrigerant, R1234yf. The participants in
the 2012 R1234yf CRP include Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General
Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, PSA, Renault and
Toyota.

The previous three SAE International CRP's related to R1234yf began in
2007, and concluded three years later with a determination that the
refrigerant can be used safely in vehicles that are designed for the new
refrigerant. R1234yf was judged to be an acceptable alternative for
mobile air conditioning systems while meeting new environmental and
consumer needs.

Despite previous confirmations of the safety of R1234yf in both
laboratory and vehicle testing, in September
2012, Daimler raised a new question about the safe usage of R1234yf
based on their most recent vehicle tests. In response, leading global
automobile manufacturers have joined together in this new SAE International
CRP to perform an updated engineering analysis based on the most recent
information. This research team is working as quickly as possible to
resolve this question and will issue interim reports as well as a final
statement at the conclusion of the CRP's activities.

These SAE International CRP activities are in response to the
international regulations by the European Union that require all new type
approved vehicles to use a refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential
(GWP) below 150. Current global mobile air conditioning systems use R134a,
a refrigerant having a GWP of approximately 1,430. R1234yf has a GWP of
four.

SAE International is a global association of more than 133,000 engineers
and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and
commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are
life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE
International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many
programs, including A World In MotionŽ and the Collegiate Design
Series.